@medz they are really tiny. I’ve got a couple of the Star Wars ones. They’re very thin sheets of metal, like maybe 1-2mm thick. They slide together with small metal tabs. If you buy, make sure you have small pliers on hand, or just use your fingertips if you hate yourself.
I cannot think about the models … I’m too disturbed by Star Trek Stormtroopers… it either means my generation is moving into memory confusion or the younger generation doesn’t understand its roots. Heartbreaking either way. ST = Science Fiction. SW = Science Fantasy…
Warning: My son and I started putting together one of theses models three years ago, a Star Wars At-At model. We pull it out once every six months or so, work on it for a few hours with extreme patience, until one of us suddenly screams out “fuuuuuuuujhgwrssht!!!”. Back in the box.
I built the Apollo Moon lander kit from this same series of models a while back. You will absolutely NEED needle nose pliers, preferably two pairs with smooth jaws, as well as some wire cutters. Like, there is no fucking way you are getting the parts out undamaged without cutters. Hell, even if damage wasn’t an issue, well, I dunno about you but I’ve never been particularly good at ripping stainless steel with my bare hands. Anyway, the parts themselves are nicely made and the overall engineering and design is alright. The biggest downfall is the instructions- lots of ambiguous imagery and nonsensical order of operations. I remember having to take things back apart more than once to add a piece in several steps down the line from where I first assembled them.
I might could consider this, if they had an option of only the aircraft. On the other hand, I would probably throw them, out of frustration, after about 2 minutes.
These are fun for about 5 minutes, and then you bend a piece that isn’t supposed to be bent, or slice your hand violently on a wing.
I’ve put together several, the R2, the Hindenburg, and the shuttle. They come out looking mostly like the pic on the box if you have a good set of jewelers rolling pliers. But I do echo whomever said “fingerprint attaching trinket”.
Good if you’re bored on a rainy day and don’t mind bloodshed.
Companies that make things like this send my company samples from time to time. I make the silly useless things they send but we don’t have use for such things so they go into a desk drawer to be forever forgotten. Good luck everyone that buys these useless things. The first fold will be fun then it will be time for beer!
@gertiestn Yeah…and that image is in rather poor taste, given that astronauts have lost their lives in explosions. I’m really disappointed in meh for approving that image.
I have a few of these and they were always less than five bucks when I bought them, so not a great deal. I might have snagged a set if all the buildings were in one set.
I bought the X-Wing when we were at the museum in Victoria, BC. It was the Canadian version of one of those crazy things you do when you’re in a foreign country and then regret later. It sat around intimidating me for a couple years before I finally opened it up and tried it. The first piece didn’t bend quite right and I broke a couple tabs off the second piece when I was separating it. That’s when I said “Yep” and calmly put it all in the garbage.
I received mine yesterday and put together the Eiffel Tower in about an hour.
This is probably the easiest one; if you bought set one, and especially if you’ve never built one before, I’d recommend building this one first.
I’m considering making a “building tips” thread…
Anyone interested?
@DennisG2014 I have an aspirational interest. I didn’t buy any of the bundles of kits because I thought they were a little pricey to take a flyer on. But I used to like jigsaw puzzles and think these “puzzles” could be fun, but I don’t want to slice my fingers either.
I think a tips post (with pictures hopefully) would be helpful.
@therealjrn I never cut my fingers on these. I used tweezers and a nail clipper to help assemble them. If you like puzzles, you’d probably enjoy them. I didn’t buy these because the models didn’t call out to me.
I think the next one I’m gonna build is the lunar lander.
@RiotDemon@therealjrn Honestly, my biggest tip would be: don’t do it!
lol
Yeah, I don’t think there’s any real danger of slicing your fingers - I suppose it’s possible but, in my experience, I think you’d have to be trying to do it.
W/ only the one person expressing interest, I don’t think I’ll bother putting together an actual building tips thread.
They are ridiculously tiny and frustrating to assemble.
If you enjoy and can tolerate such a challenge, then it may be something you’d enjoy.
I have kind of a like/hate relationship with them - I don’t exactly find it fun, nor do I find the results particularly pleasing.
Apparently, I just like to punish myself. lol
Honestly, I spent the entire hour assembling the Eiffel Tower saying, “oh you f-cking c-nt” about every few minutes… and that is very possibly the simplest possible model to assemble.
I guess it’s the challenge, along with the tendency toward self-flagellation, that motivates me to do it.
In any case, the thread I was considering making would’ve been specific to the model I made - the Eiffel Tower - there were some things I learned along the way that I realized would help some people to know before hand.
If anyone is about to build that model and would like some tips, just ask.
I’m in no hurry to build the rest, but when I do, if I learn anything along the way, I’ll offer again.
General tips are that small needle nose pliers are required - I have no idea how RD managed w/ tweezers, but I suppose the right pair would work - you need to be able to hold a tiny piece of metal and get a clean, straight, accurate bend in it.
My arsenal consists of the small pliers, small, angled snips and a normally-closed set of tweezers - they’re spring loaded closed, squeeze to open and are 2nd only to the pliers in terms of usefulness (make good roach clips too, fyi ). I also have an led lighted magnifying glass on a stand that comes in handy.
Keep in mind, the metal is a fraction of a mm thick, and the tabs and slots are no more than 2 mm - maddeningly tiny and flimsy.
Also important - make damn sure every bend is correct before you make it - the perforated fold lines will tolerate ~2 - 2.5 bends before breaking. I.e., if you bend a 90° angle, realize you have to unbend it (in order to perform some other step, e.g.) and then bend it back, there’s a very good chance it’ll just break - if you do that twice, it’ll almost certainly break.
Another general tip involves the tabs - they give you two methods of securing the tabs and instruct you which to use where - one is bending a tab 90° and the other is twisting it 90°. The twisting is by far the more reliable, secure and do-able method.
They seem to advise the bend in places that are visible and the twist in places that are not.
Ignore the suggestions and do the twist whenever possible.
Can’t think of anything else to add at the moment.
Guess what. These are knockoffs. There is zero connection between A&M Group International (seller of Model Technics) and Fascinations (seller of Metal Earth). Tanga even admitted Model Technics were knockoffs. Completely unsure just how Fascinations could even have a warranty. Unless Fascinations sued A&M, won, and then ended up with the fake stuff and had to sell it off.
@JOATMON I realized this as well.
But they seem to me to be the same quality as the one Metal Earth model I’ve made.
(Actually, these were packaged better, w/ a protective plastic sheet on both sides of the metal sheets, which the M.E. kit didn’t have.)
I did think it was strange that Meh said there’s a warranty from M.E., but really, I can’t see much need for a warranty on these things anyway.
I’d think manufacturing defects would be extremely rare on CNC laser etched items, and shipping damage would be Meh’s responsibility.
I love these things. Build one over the course of a week as a hobby, while having a beer of course. Definitely worth it if you’re into that kind of thing, 4 bucks for multiple hours of fun. As said, not for children or lazy/uncoordinated udults.
@lsdie17 “not for children or lazy/uncoordinated udults” Well I’m out. I assume if their not for lazy/uncoordinated udults, then they’re probably not for lazy/uncoordinated adults either.
In for one set #1.
I bought and built the Apollo lander last year.
Have nothing to add about these models that hasn’t already been said.
Tiny models, difficult to bend the pieces in just the right way even with the right tools - you’ll need small needle-nose pliers and snips at the very minimum.
Not sure I would call it “fun”, but it’s a good way to kill some time, occupy your mind and hands, and test your patience and threshold for frustration.
Don’t attempt these if you’re not either extremely meticulous and patient or a glutton for self-punishment.
I’m a little of all of those things - I will love/hate putting these together. lol
I have marginal interest in putting together a building one of these. I have negative interest in putting together a bridge. If I had an option of just vehicles I MIGHT have considered $20 worth it, but not for THESE assortments.
@Stallion I don’t think the fun would fade for me and my fiance. We love puzzles/legos. But alas, adulthood tells me I must save my $20 for bills. How lame…
If I am right on these, they are usually a set of pre-stamped metal plates. You punch out the pieces, and after some bending and general “Insert tab into slot” you get a finished model. I had a couple star wars ones, and i started to feel like I was going blind and quit after an hour. Neat, but not for me. Finished items always come out looking like neat little fingerprint-attracting trinkets.
@killians1978 That get dusty, but are impossible to dust due to a million sharp corners that catch and shred the duster/cloth. Maybe with compressed air, but who carries that around the house?
@JOATMON Since the 30 day warranty is from Metal Earth, I’d suggest they are authentic. The link above under warranty also gives the 3D views of the items on sale today.
@Euniceandrich@RiotDemon Guess what. These are knockoffs. There is zero connection between A&M Group International (seller of Model Technics) and Fascinations (seller of Metal Earth). Tanga even admitted Model Technics were knockoffs. completely unsure just how Fascinations could even have a warranty. Unless Fascinations sued A&M, won, and then ended up with the fake stuff and had to sell it off.
“you’re supposed to build a shed in the backyard in which you will house the tools you need for completing other purely practical tasks around your property.”
Keep in mind that you are building a model from razor blades. Band-Aids will become your little friends.
Very neat, but not much of a deal.
How lame of you all - in for one of each here!
/giphy lavish-bitter-asparagus
Here’s my summary of the Amazon reviews:
These are great if you enjoy assembling tiny, intricate, delicate models, but they are frustrating if you don’t enjoy any one of those things.
@craigthom
Here’s your summary of the Meh reviews:
These are great if you enjoy assembling tiny, intricate, delicate models, but they are frustrating if you don’t enjoy any one of those things.
Pictures don’t show how these are puzzles… How big are the pieces? How they fit together?
@medz they are really tiny. I’ve got a couple of the Star Wars ones. They’re very thin sheets of metal, like maybe 1-2mm thick. They slide together with small metal tabs. If you buy, make sure you have small pliers on hand, or just use your fingertips if you hate yourself.
@medz small, painful, best of luck. I did a Star Trek storm trooper vehicle . It was fun for 10 minutes.
@vinuash seem more like models than puzzles. They come with instructions, right?
@larrygrochal @medz Haha star trek storm trooper.
/giphy cross-fandom
@medz
@medz yeppers
@killians1978 I was hoping to ruin someone’s night…
@medz @vinuash You rang?
@djslack @medz I always wanted a model of the Model T that jumped the house in this video.
@djslack @medz Great video, loved the ending.
@medz Think model kit, not puzzle.
Tab A goes into Slot B stuff.
@medz @vinuash Instruction, yea kinda. They’re minimal.
@blaineg
say no more nudge nudge
@medz @vinuash It’s more like 0.1 - 0.2 mm thick, nowhere near a millimeter thick.
That’s a guess, mine are at home, so I don’t have one handy to measure.
Saw Technics, got excited for Lego set with gears.
Instead, Meh.
@Comedian I was thinking Panasonic’s former high end branding for electronics. They were nice pieces.
@Comedian similar situation I thought I was gonna get some cool audio gear
I cannot think about the models … I’m too disturbed by Star Trek Stormtroopers… it either means my generation is moving into memory confusion or the younger generation doesn’t understand its roots. Heartbreaking either way. ST = Science Fiction. SW = Science Fantasy…
@Cooky :
I’m waiting for the day Michael Myers pulls off his mask and it’s…
Warning: My son and I started putting together one of theses models three years ago, a Star Wars At-At model. We pull it out once every six months or so, work on it for a few hours with extreme patience, until one of us suddenly screams out “fuuuuuuuujhgwrssht!!!”. Back in the box.
Three years. So look forward to that, times five.
I built the Apollo Moon lander kit from this same series of models a while back. You will absolutely NEED needle nose pliers, preferably two pairs with smooth jaws, as well as some wire cutters. Like, there is no fucking way you are getting the parts out undamaged without cutters. Hell, even if damage wasn’t an issue, well, I dunno about you but I’ve never been particularly good at ripping stainless steel with my bare hands. Anyway, the parts themselves are nicely made and the overall engineering and design is alright. The biggest downfall is the instructions- lots of ambiguous imagery and nonsensical order of operations. I remember having to take things back apart more than once to add a piece in several steps down the line from where I first assembled them.
No metal baby arm? I’m out.
I might could consider this, if they had an option of only the aircraft. On the other hand, I would probably throw them, out of frustration, after about 2 minutes.
These are fun for about 5 minutes, and then you bend a piece that isn’t supposed to be bent, or slice your hand violently on a wing.
I’ve put together several, the R2, the Hindenburg, and the shuttle. They come out looking mostly like the pic on the box if you have a good set of jewelers rolling pliers. But I do echo whomever said “fingerprint attaching trinket”.
Good if you’re bored on a rainy day and don’t mind bloodshed.
If Nakatomi Plaza was offered, these would sell much better I think.
@ACraigL yippee-ki-yay, motherfucker! I’d build it.
Puzzling meh items
Companies that make things like this send my company samples from time to time. I make the silly useless things they send but we don’t have use for such things so they go into a desk drawer to be forever forgotten. Good luck everyone that buys these useless things. The first fold will be fun then it will be time for beer!
For some reason I couldn’t stop myself…
I’ve built a few of these. They’re mind numbing for about an hour or two. Get your tweezers and cutters ready.
The price isn’t bad, but, I wish I could pick which five models I want instead of a set. I usually buy mine on eBay and get exactly what I want.
Legos would have been way cooler
@meh will always buy Legos
@meh doesn’t work for Meh, @allen721.
@allen721 no i won’t
You guys could have had me with the Pagoda one but instead… it’s a no from me, dog.
/giphy no-from-me
in for one…
magnificent-flabby-zebra
Maybe I’m just unhappy about airplanes barreling into things, but that last picture scares the crap out of me.
@gertiestn Yeah…and that image is in rather poor taste, given that astronauts have lost their lives in explosions. I’m really disappointed in meh for approving that image.
I really want this, but it’s still a bit too expensive. Maybe in the second round?
Plus, I just broke my arm, so these would come out, uh, “slightly special.”
I have a few of these and they were always less than five bucks when I bought them, so not a great deal. I might have snagged a set if all the buildings were in one set.
@ponagathos maybe we can work out a deal where you get all the buildings & bridges & I get all the flying machines . . .
Maybe if it were this one…
@cinoclav that was the first one I built.
@RiotDemon Me too.
If these were big daddy Ed Roth models I’d be interested.
I bought the X-Wing when we were at the museum in Victoria, BC. It was the Canadian version of one of those crazy things you do when you’re in a foreign country and then regret later. It sat around intimidating me for a couple years before I finally opened it up and tried it. The first piece didn’t bend quite right and I broke a couple tabs off the second piece when I was separating it. That’s when I said “Yep” and calmly put it all in the garbage.
I received mine yesterday and put together the Eiffel Tower in about an hour.
This is probably the easiest one; if you bought set one, and especially if you’ve never built one before, I’d recommend building this one first.
I’m considering making a “building tips” thread…
Anyone interested?
@DennisG2014 I have an aspirational interest. I didn’t buy any of the bundles of kits because I thought they were a little pricey to take a flyer on. But I used to like jigsaw puzzles and think these “puzzles” could be fun, but I don’t want to slice my fingers either.
I think a tips post (with pictures hopefully) would be helpful.
@therealjrn I never cut my fingers on these. I used tweezers and a nail clipper to help assemble them. If you like puzzles, you’d probably enjoy them. I didn’t buy these because the models didn’t call out to me.
I think the next one I’m gonna build is the lunar lander.
@RiotDemon @therealjrn Honestly, my biggest tip would be: don’t do it!
lol
Yeah, I don’t think there’s any real danger of slicing your fingers - I suppose it’s possible but, in my experience, I think you’d have to be trying to do it.
W/ only the one person expressing interest, I don’t think I’ll bother putting together an actual building tips thread.
They are ridiculously tiny and frustrating to assemble.
If you enjoy and can tolerate such a challenge, then it may be something you’d enjoy.
I have kind of a like/hate relationship with them - I don’t exactly find it fun, nor do I find the results particularly pleasing.
Apparently, I just like to punish myself. lol
Honestly, I spent the entire hour assembling the Eiffel Tower saying, “oh you f-cking c-nt” about every few minutes… and that is very possibly the simplest possible model to assemble.
I guess it’s the challenge, along with the tendency toward self-flagellation, that motivates me to do it.
In any case, the thread I was considering making would’ve been specific to the model I made - the Eiffel Tower - there were some things I learned along the way that I realized would help some people to know before hand.
If anyone is about to build that model and would like some tips, just ask.
I’m in no hurry to build the rest, but when I do, if I learn anything along the way, I’ll offer again.
General tips are that small needle nose pliers are required - I have no idea how RD managed w/ tweezers, but I suppose the right pair would work - you need to be able to hold a tiny piece of metal and get a clean, straight, accurate bend in it.
My arsenal consists of the small pliers, small, angled snips and a normally-closed set of tweezers - they’re spring loaded closed, squeeze to open and are 2nd only to the pliers in terms of usefulness (make good roach clips too, fyi ). I also have an led lighted magnifying glass on a stand that comes in handy.
Keep in mind, the metal is a fraction of a mm thick, and the tabs and slots are no more than 2 mm - maddeningly tiny and flimsy.
Also important - make damn sure every bend is correct before you make it - the perforated fold lines will tolerate ~2 - 2.5 bends before breaking. I.e., if you bend a 90° angle, realize you have to unbend it (in order to perform some other step, e.g.) and then bend it back, there’s a very good chance it’ll just break - if you do that twice, it’ll almost certainly break.
Another general tip involves the tabs - they give you two methods of securing the tabs and instruct you which to use where - one is bending a tab 90° and the other is twisting it 90°. The twisting is by far the more reliable, secure and do-able method.
They seem to advise the bend in places that are visible and the twist in places that are not.
Ignore the suggestions and do the twist whenever possible.
Can’t think of anything else to add at the moment.
Best of luck!
@DennisG2014 @RiotDemon
Guess what. These are knockoffs. There is zero connection between A&M Group International (seller of Model Technics) and Fascinations (seller of Metal Earth). Tanga even admitted Model Technics were knockoffs. Completely unsure just how Fascinations could even have a warranty. Unless Fascinations sued A&M, won, and then ended up with the fake stuff and had to sell it off.
@JOATMON I realized this as well.
But they seem to me to be the same quality as the one Metal Earth model I’ve made.
(Actually, these were packaged better, w/ a protective plastic sheet on both sides of the metal sheets, which the M.E. kit didn’t have.)
I did think it was strange that Meh said there’s a warranty from M.E., but really, I can’t see much need for a warranty on these things anyway.
I’d think manufacturing defects would be extremely rare on CNC laser etched items, and shipping damage would be Meh’s responsibility.
Wow do I not have the patience for something like this…
they look cool. are these fun? or are they frustrating?
@boygenius1991 both
@boygenius1991 there’s a third option. Just buy it so I don’t get them in the Fukus (fukos? Can’t remeber)
@larrygrochal
Fukos.
The Fukus were killed off.
@boygenius1991 If one of these shows up in your parcel of unknown items, it’ll definitely be a Fukobukuru!
@PlacidPenguin thank you. I’m to tired (lazy) to check or remember
These are really cool. I should buy some.
Reminds me of the 3d puzzles of yesterday year. I had the Falcon.
I love these things. Build one over the course of a week as a hobby, while having a beer of course. Definitely worth it if you’re into that kind of thing, 4 bucks for multiple hours of fun. As said, not for children or lazy/uncoordinated udults.
@lsdie17 “not for children or lazy/uncoordinated udults” Well I’m out. I assume if their not for lazy/uncoordinated udults, then they’re probably not for lazy/uncoordinated adults either.
@davidwr99 @lsdie17 Like how you covered both bases there.
My son will be super excited about these
/giphy periodic-budding-potato
/giphy glistening-fishy-pepperoni
In for one set #1.
I bought and built the Apollo lander last year.
Have nothing to add about these models that hasn’t already been said.
Tiny models, difficult to bend the pieces in just the right way even with the right tools - you’ll need small needle-nose pliers and snips at the very minimum.
Not sure I would call it “fun”, but it’s a good way to kill some time, occupy your mind and hands, and test your patience and threshold for frustration.
Don’t attempt these if you’re not either extremely meticulous and patient or a glutton for self-punishment.
I’m a little of all of those things - I will love/hate putting these together. lol
@DennisG2014 Magnification, you’ll also want magnification.
I have marginal interest in putting together a building one of these. I have negative interest in putting together a bridge. If I had an option of just vehicles I MIGHT have considered $20 worth it, but not for THESE assortments.
Specs
What’s in the Box?
5x Metal Models
Price Comparison
About $35 (for 5) at Amazon
Warranty
30 Day Metal Earth
Estimated Delivery
Monday, July 13th - Thursday, July 16th
Cool, but you can buy them individually and I bet after building 1 or 2 you’d be done with the fun, and would save some cash.
@Stallion I’m on set 15 and still not tired. I love these!
@Stallion I don’t think the fun would fade for me and my fiance. We love puzzles/legos. But alas, adulthood tells me I must save my $20 for bills. How lame…
@Stallion Individually I’ve seen these for about 7-$10 a piece. At that rate, you might as well buy a set of 5 and gift the 3 you don’t want.
@Stallion Hey I’ve built over 50 of these, they’re pretty awesome.
If I am right on these, they are usually a set of pre-stamped metal plates. You punch out the pieces, and after some bending and general “Insert tab into slot” you get a finished model. I had a couple star wars ones, and i started to feel like I was going blind and quit after an hour. Neat, but not for me. Finished items always come out looking like neat little fingerprint-attracting trinkets.
@killians1978 That get dusty, but are impossible to dust due to a million sharp corners that catch and shred the duster/cloth. Maybe with compressed air, but who carries that around the house?
@fordprefect Raises hand…
A model sale for the model customer. I break cameras, so not for me.
Are these the actual legit Metal Earth products? Another deal site was selling knockoffs.
@JOATMON… are you suggesting that Meh might sell cheap crap???
/giphy the horror
@JOATMON I doubt they are. I’ve bought knockoffs off eBay and was pleased with them.
@JOATMON Since the 30 day warranty is from Metal Earth, I’d suggest they are authentic. The link above under warranty also gives the 3D views of the items on sale today.
@Euniceandrich @JOATMON good catch!
@Euniceandrich @RiotDemon Guess what. These are knockoffs. There is zero connection between A&M Group International (seller of Model Technics) and Fascinations (seller of Metal Earth). Tanga even admitted Model Technics were knockoffs. completely unsure just how Fascinations could even have a warranty. Unless Fascinations sued A&M, won, and then ended up with the fake stuff and had to sell it off.
Christmas presents!
/image smokey-quirky-frankenstein
“you’re supposed to build a shed in the backyard in which you will house the tools you need for completing other purely practical tasks around your property.”
Reviews summer plans
I… Oh.
@brainmist That’s what I did:
Yay! Tetanus for the whole family!
/giphy death by a thousand cuts
Set 1 was the first to sell out.
you will need tiny hands and tiny tools for this one.
boatload of patience helps
Hopefully there will be some later. These look really neat, but $20 for a toy is too much to afford right now